Cedar - Shoulder season burning??

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Minister of Fire
Oct 12, 2011
564
PA
So, I got a call a few weeks ago from a guy who was taking down a few cedar trees on his property. It didn't look like much wood, so I told him that I'd take it all. I figured it would be great for kindling or freshening up the fire from a hot bed of coals. Now about 2 cords later, whatever am I going to do with all this darn cedar?? It's more than I'll need for kindling next year. Anyone burn cedar during the shoulder season?? Any issues with burning it during the shoulder season?

Thanks.
 
Good for kindling, good for burning in shoulder season, good for mixing in a bit with hardwoods during winter. No problems so far. Good luck!
 
Cascade Failure said:
I get a good 4-6 weeks each year burning cedar. No problems so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have a regular source. Nothing like burning what you got!! I know that I've read that some guys burn poplar or cottonwood. Initially, I was surprised. Then I began searching out more info on Hearth.com. Seems like quite a few folks burning all kinds of stuff successfully. Then recently an arborist who has some wood for me once in a while told me that he burns cottonwood and has 4 cord ready to burn this year. So, I picked up a bit to split for next year. I've gotta give it a try at least. Glad that my cedar score is a potential real score. If that makes sense.
 
red oak said:
Good for kindling, good for burning in shoulder season, good for mixing in a bit with hardwoods during winter. No problems so far. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Humorous to read "red oak" advocating burning cedar. But more seriously, thanks for the info. Sometimes a little confirmation from fellow wood burning humanity helps.
 
We had four western red cedars taken down last year and I wasn't looking forward to cutting, splitting, stacking etc. all this 'second rate' wood. I have, so far, been quite happy with how it burns and with a tiny bit of Super Cedar fire starter my fires take off shortly after lighting. The burn times aren't super long, but compared to the softwoods that I usually burn, it's not noticeably shorter. All in all I don't mind burning the cedar at all.
 
Glad to read this thread. I have some cedar from a large hedge I just took down and the owner did not want any of it. So I have about 65 "trunks" that are a from 3-7 inches and about 5 feet long. Some would make decent post but are not long enough for a fence to put them three feet in the ground. So I am going to burn it. I will split it up and use it in the spring.
 
I think you'll find you'll use one or two small splits with each morning hardwood re-load just to get the first started again quickly. It's great for that.
 
Just cut up a nice size Cedar today. Enjoy the heat!
 
Awesome for starting! Good to mix in. And, smells Great!
 
It's all BTU's! Just make sure you don't load up the stove will all cedar--it takes off quick and burns hot and fast. I had some cedar that I scrounged last year. iI makes a nice mix with hardwood.
 
White or red cedar? . . . then again I'm not really sure if there is a huge difference between the two, never having burned red cedar.

I do use up some white cedar in the shoulder season . . . but mostly I save it for the kindling . . . some will go into the woodstove for regular burning in the shoulder season . . . but again . . . mostly I use it for kindling . . . I do love the smell of working with cedar though . . .
 
WoodNStuff said:
Cascade Failure said:
I get a good 4-6 weeks each year burning cedar. No problems so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have a regular source. Nothing like burning what you got!! I know that I've read that some guys burn poplar or cottonwood. Initially, I was surprised. Then I began searching out more info on Hearth.com. Seems like quite a few folks burning all kinds of stuff successfully. Then recently an arborist who has some wood for me once in a while told me that he burns cottonwood and has 4 cord ready to burn this year. So, I picked up a bit to split for next year. I've gotta give it a try at least. Glad that my cedar score is a potential real score. If that makes sense.
Click to expand...

Yup, quite a bit of standing dead here. Great for shoulder season or kindling. Not a dead of winter wood.
 
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